Maple View neighbors urge county to tighten agritourism rules after large event in rural buffer

Residents of the Maple View community and nearby Bingham Township used the public-remarks portion of the June 3 Orange County commissioners meeting to press the county to tighten the agritourism statute'as applied to farm-exempt properties.

Susan Walzer, who said the group held a recent meeting with an estimated 300 attendees, told commissioners she and her neighbors are seeing what they describe as "bona fide farm ex farm exempt land owners abusing the agritourism statute to advance their goals for large commercial business enterprises" in areas the speakers said were never intended for commercial-scale events. Walzer and others specifically cited a recent event with roughly 2,500 people and asked how an amphitheater with that capacity could operate safely on rural roads and in the county's rural buffer where ordinary safety inspections and zoning reviews do not apply to farm-exempt parcels.

"Keep in mind that these farm exemption properties are exempt from county zoning," Walzer said. "So except for an electrical inspection and water and septic reviews, there are no normal safety inspections. So when approved and open to the public, we have concerns for public safety."

Marilee McTighe of Bingham Township described the same large event and urged commissioners to consider the implications for watersheds, road safety and the look of the rural buffer in coming years.

Why it matters: Speakers said county and state law and the current definition of agritourism can permit activities that resemble commercial entertainment venues while avoiding the county's usual zoning and safety review. Neighbors asked the county to work with legislators to clarify the definition and to institute local measures that would protect rural infrastructure and public safety.

What residents said and requested - Susan Walzer: Asked the board to "work with you on" redefining agritourism and pointed commissioners and staff to materials posted at defendmapleviewcommunity.com documenting community concerns and a recent meeting that had standing-room attendance. - Marilee McTighe: Noted the event of about 2,500 people was held in a protected watershed and asked commissioners to consider impacts on rural roads and the environment.

Board response and context - The chair and planning staff did not take action on the public comments that evening; staff noted that some agritourism-related issues implicate state statute and therefore changes may require legislative action in addition to any local UDO text amendments. Planning staff and the board indicated a willingness to meet with community members and to explore options including clarifying local definitions and potential ordinance changes.

Next steps - Speakers said they are meeting with legislators and will return to future commissioner meetings to present more detail. Planning staff referenced ongoing work on conditional rezonings and text amendments to the UDO and noted that any substantive regulatory change to how farm-exempt parcels are treated on agritourism matters may require both local code amendments and state legislative fixes.

Ending Neighbors said they are prepared to continue public comments and to work with county planners and state lawmakers on clearer definitions and safety standards for large public events on farm-exempt properties.